Bahraini authorities "have arrested two girls for allegedly planning to attack the Sakhir race circuit" during the controversial F1 Grand Prix last weekend, according to Gianluca Mezzofiore of INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES. AFP identified the girls as Nafisa al-Asfur and Rihanna al-Musawi (ages unknown), and "claims they will be detained for 60 days on charges of trying to 'bomb the Sakhir circuit' in the run-up to the race." State news agency BNA quoted police as saying they arrested "two girls who were trying to carry out a terrorist act at Bahrain's international circuit in the south, as the kingdom was hosting the Formula One race" (IB TIMES, 4/23). MIDDLE EAST ONLINE reported the pair "were arrested on Saturday, the second day of practice sessions, at one of the entrances to the Sakhir circuit, south of Manama." Public Security Chief General Tariq Hassan "did not give the age of the girls but said one of them had concealed a pillow under her clothes and explained that this was a dry run 'to test security measures.'" He said that police had seized 1,000 petrol bombs, 137 tires protesters were "planning to set ablaze" as well as 72 fire extinguishers which "were to be used as bombs" (MIDDLE EAST ONLINE, 4/23).

German Hockey League (DEL) club Dusseldorf EG has applied to host the league's next outdoor Winter Game in '15, according to RP ONLINE. The possible host venue for the DEL Winter Game in late Jan. '15 would be the stadium of Bundesliga club Fortuna Dusseldorf. DEG Managing Dir Elmar Schmellenkamp said, "We want to present this offer to the DEL. It would be a great event for the city of Dusseldorf and for the hockey region" (RP ONLINE, 4/22).

Ballantine's Championship organizers "have given assurances" that this week's golf tournament in South Korea "will go ahead" after two of its biggest stars withdrew over fears of conflict with North Korea. America's Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, and Dustin Johnson, the world No. 19, pulled out over "perceived unrest on the Korean peninsula" (AFP, 4/23). ... Local tennis officials said that Myanmar has canceled a series of Davis Cup matches in Yangon "after security fears were raised following a recent outbreak of religious violence" (AFP, 4/23). ... The Dubai Cricket Council’s richest tournament -- the SuperStars T20 -- "will begin on Thursday, with 31 matches scheduled to be held in the month-long event at the Fairground Oval" (GULF NEWS, 4/23). ... Security "has been beefed up and vehicular parking banned around the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the Indian Premier League 6 tie between hosts Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors India on Tuesday evening." With about 1,500 police personnel, including central and state reserve forces, "deployed in and around the venue ahead of the match, the stadium has turned into a fortress" (IANS, 4/23). ... The Rally of Prince of Asturias will not be held this September due to the economic crisis in Spain, canceling what would have been the 50th edition of the race. The Prince of Asturias Automobile Club said "the lack of sufficient support, combined with the cutbacks, and the present conditions, make it impossible" to organize the event (AS, 4/23).